Valuable



(No Model.)

G. W. KNIGHT.

INDICATOR FOR POST OFFICE BOXES.

Patented May 18, 1886.

{ 11N111 HHMHIH HQ I GEORGE W. KNIGHT, OF BUTLER, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN R. ADDISON, OF SAME PLACE.

INDICATOR roe POST-OFFICE BOXES.

$PECIIIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No,342,021, dated May 18,1 886.

Application filed April 7, 1885. Serial No. 161,507. (No model.)

T or whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Gnonen W. KNIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butler, in the county of Choctaw and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Post-0flice Boxesj and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in post-office boxes, in providing an indicator for notifying box-holders that they have valuable mail-matter in the post-office.

The object of my improvements are, first, to provide postmasters with a convenient, certain, prominent, and permanent notice to boxholders of valuable mail-matter in the office; second, to afford the holders of postoffice boxes facilities for informing themselves when there is valuable matter in the post-office addressed to them. I attain these objects by mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a back View of one of a series of post-office boxes, showing my indicator attachment secured to the edge of the box and in position to be operated by the postmaster on his side of the case of boxes. Fig. 2 is a front View of one of the post-office boxes, showing the words on the indicator through the glass door for the view of the holder of the box. Fig. 3 is a side View of the fixture as it ap- 3 5 pears when detached from the box. Fig. 4 is a front view of the indicator detached from the post-office box, showing the inscription thereon.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the different views.

A is an indicator, which consists of a strip of brass or other suitable metal, which I prefer to make about one-half inch wide and three and one-half inches long, having a projection, G, 011 one side turned at right angles to the body and about one-half an inch from its pivoted end. In one end of the indicator a hole is formed for a screw, 13, for its pivotal connection to the edge of the box; or, if preferred, I may use a'tack or nail in place of the screw.

I The indicator Ais pointed and turned over at one end to form a handle or a loop, F, for convenience in moving it into position for use,

as shown in Fig. 1, or in moving it one side When not required. A countersink, D, is 5 made in the metal strip near the handle to hold the indicator perpendicular, and out of sight when not in use by turning it up and springing the countersink D over the oval-headed nail E in the edge of the box.

The indicator A has marked on its front surface the words a valuable package, which are intended so as to be seen by the holder of the box through the glass door from the front side of the case. These words may be embossed or engraved on the indicator-bar, or be cut through the metal, as desired.

The edge of the projection (J on the side of the indicator-bar acts as a stop against the vertical side of the box to hold the indicator horio zontally across the box when intended for view from the front, and the side of the projection against the edge of the box to act as a stop when not in use to keep the indicator from being shown in the wrong box by step ping the bar just as the countersink D passes over the ovalhcaded nail, which holds it in a vertical position.

The side view, Fig. 3, shows the indicator slightly curved longitudinally, as will be readily seen, thereby giving sufficient spring to hold it in place perpendicularly over the ovalheaded nail when not in use.

' Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 8 5 Patent, is-

1. An indicator for post-office boxes, consisting of a strip or bar pivotally secured to one edge of the back of the box, and having a countersink in its handle end adapted to be 0 sprung over an oval head in the edge of the box, and having an inscription on its front side, said bar adapted to be turned across the box to enable the box holder to see theinscription through the glazed front of the box, as 5 set forth.

2. An indicator-bar for the back of postoffice boxes, having a projecting stop on its edge to rest against the vertical side of the box to hold the bar horizontally across its open end and to prevent the bar from passing beyond the edge of the box when turned out of view from the front, as set forth.

3. An indicator for post-office boxes, consisting of a bar pivoted to the rear edge of the box and having an inscription on its front side adapted to be seen through the glazed front of the boX, said bar having a stop on its edge to rest against the vertical side of the box 10 when the indicator is in position to be seen from the front and when turned out of View, and a countersink in the handle end of the bar adapted to be sprung over an oval head in the edge of the box, to hold the bar in position when out of View, substantially as shown, 1

and for the purpose set forth.

GEO. W. KNIGHT. [L. s] Witnesses:

J O. CHAPMAN, R. F. MOODY. 

